Storage container for fluids



United States Patent [72] Inventor Orren N. Kepple Peoria, 111. [21]AppLNo. 777,100 [22] Filed Nov. 19,1968 [45] Patented Dec. 15,1970 [73]Assignee Industrial Management Association Wayne, III. by mesneassignments [54] STORAGE CONTAINER FOR FLUIDS 12 Claims, 10 DrawingFigs.

[52] 11.8. (I 220/4, 220/97, 220/72, 20/2383 [51] Int. Cl. B65d 7/42,565d 21/02, B65d 21/00, B65d 7/00 [50] FieldofSearch 220/72,74,

5, (Bushing Digest), S-A, 4, 75, 97, (BB. Digest), 23.6, 23.83;294/67.4-A

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 152,168 6/1874 Renwick220/72 5 2,036,276 4/1936 Hothersall.... 220/72 2,511,876 6/1950Protzeller 220/97-X 2,893,588 7/1959 Martin 220/72-X PrimaryExaminer-Raphael H. Schwartz Attomey-Harbaugh and Thomas ABSTRACT: Adurable, safe metal container for liquids characterized by seamless,integral sides having workhardened marginal walls bordering and defininga panel of press-formed indentations or embossments, each indentationalso having work-hardened marginal walls. The sides of the container arejoined by integral work-hardened corners, and are combined withflange-welded top and bottom walls to provide structural rigidity alongall axes of the container. The juncture of the sides with both the topand bottom walls is extended peripherally to form, end to end, aprotective flange and all outer surfaces on any one side or wall areessentially planar for compact stacking of the containers upon andadjacent to each other in any orientation. At least two workhardenedmarginal walls are provided in close proximity to each comer edge andthe sides are characterized by having the work-hardened marginal wallsof at least two embossments intersected by any major dimension thereof.In one embodiment any given point on a flat part of a side panel isbordered by work-hardened marginal walls of an embossment. A recessedopening is provided in the top wall with a radially slotted, threadedcollar or a threaded spider to receive a mating stopper or bung insealed relationship. Other embodiments are disclosed.

PATENTED nm 5 mm 35 171.29 ea SHEET 1 OF 2 22 M/ VE/V TOR @E'RE/V N;KEPPLE Hy Mi QM WW 4 Harneys PATENTEDBEN 5mm SHEET 2 [1F 2 u w K W. m Rg 1 STORAGE CONTAINER FOR FLUIDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The priorart relating to methods and apparatus for forming packages andcontainers is prolific. Metal containers are formed, plastic and glasscontainers are extruded, blown or molded, and paper containers arefolded and glued in automatic machines at tremendous rates of speed. Theprimary considerations of the industry are to produce the largestquantity of a suitable container from a given amount of raw material atthe lowest cost in the least time. Little or no attention is paid towall thicknesses, rigidity, internal stresses and strains, abnormalusage and prolonged storage, except to meet certain minimum requirementsconsistent with costs and demand or in the case of gasoline containersand fuel storage tanks. As long as the container is capable ofpreserving its contents from producer to consumer, and withstandsreasonable wear and tear, it is a success. Most mass-produced containersare intended for onetime use and are disposable.

In the early development of the metal can for the food and oilindustries, the containers were satisfactory for certain commoditiesonly and the development of the tin can as we know it today was theresult of continuous research. The first tin cans produced for foodpackaging introduced the era of mass distribution but fell short ofexpectations for many commodities because of unexpected forces such asinternal gas pressure, the corrosive nature of the contents, galvaniceffects and changes in temperatures. Not the least difficulty was damagein transit and handling. Similarly, containers for petroleum productsand chemicals are a continuing subject of research to overcome bothstructural failures, material compatibility problems, all aggravated byhard usage.

Critical attention to the physical and chemical forces that contributeto container failure has led to the development of successful containersfor many commodities, particularly where the unit size is no more thanabout a gallon. The problem continues in other areas in spite of thenumerous new materials of construction available, and the present levelof container technology and know-how. Furthermore, there are stillserious problems in the storage and handling of liquids in largerquantities. As the size of the container increases, factors of cost andthe forces working against adequate and safe con tainment of the liquidcontents, multiply. These inadequacies are particularly acute in the artwhere dangerous or volatile liquids are handled and stored. Althoughpressed flanges and comers are used in many metal containers for bothsmall and large unit quantities of liquids or solids, the curve radiiand flange positions are such as to not accomplish the desired rigidity.Safe containers of this type are still so expensive to manufacture andreplace, that it is common practice to provide outer expendableprotective covers or crates for them and to recondition such containersfor reuse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The instant invention concerns a metalcontainer body of noncircular section which is characterized by certainpatterns of work-hardened edges, bends or stretched walls in the sides,cooperating with essentially flat top and bottom walls through weldedflanged edges to produce structural rigidity in any orientation or alongany axis sufiicient for the safe storage of large unit quantities ofliquid and also suitable to withstand the rough handling of suchcontainers, filled or empty. The invention embodies the use of stretchedwork-hardened corners and intermediate walls in the container bodywherein the crystal lattice structure of the the flat has beenrearranged by stretching or sliding compression from two sides of themetal blank, thereby enhancing the rigidity of the overall structurewithout additional weight. The parts are combined in such a relationshipthat a container of maximum strength can be fabricated from the leastamount of metal while at the same time providing corners and otherexposed parts which have increased resistance to wear because of theincreased hardness of these worked metal surfaces, edges and comers. The

generally flat sides of the container are united at stretchedwork-hardened comers formed by the intersection of the planes ofcontiguous exterior surfaces of the flat sides and the corners arethereby adapted to resist wear due to bumping and vibration in transit,or when grouped in a stack with other containers during storage. Thesides are composed of embossed panels having their stretchedwork-hardened marginal subwalls spaced inwardly from the work-hardenedcorners to form an integral lattice of rigid bracing. The panels arealso provided with a pattern of embossments or press-formed indentationswhich present work-hardened subwalls intersected by any major dimensionof the panel. This network of hardened metal structures ties thecontainer together as a rigid unit particularly adapted for handlinglarge quantities of liquids.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thecontainer of this invention;

FIG. 1A is a fragmentary view of a bottom corner of the container shownin FIG. 1 to illustrate the recessed opening therein as an embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a sideelevational view of the container;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through a wall of the containerbody taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional enlarged view of the recessed area ofan end plate of the container body showing an opening having aninternally extended slotted nipple;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detailed view of a corner of the container bodyshowing an end plate in apposition with a flange provided on the end ofthe container body;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing'the container bodies grouped in astack;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of opening for. theends of the container;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the containershowing the use of corner cleats and a chain bridle for lifting thecontainer; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cleat of FIG. 8 partially cut awayto show the flange structure.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, the storage container body 10 isshown to include the generally flat sides 11 in a rectilinearorientation for purposes of illustration. The ends 1 1 have raisedembossed panels 12 projecting outwardly from the plane of the outermargins 14. Each side 11 of the container 10 has an enlarged embossedmain panel 12 and each such panel. has a circumferential work-hardenedsubwall 15 at the margin 14 and inwardly spaced around the side. Thepanels 12 are reinforced by a plurality of embossments 16 which arerecessed into the respective exterior surfaces of the panels. Theembossments 16 are arranged within each panel in any configurationwherein a line drawn through a major dimension in the plane of a panel(i.e. side to opposite side) will intersect at least two suchembossments. Each embossment 16 has a circumferential workhardened wall17, formed as a result of the compression of the sheet metal blankbetween male and female molds. The bottoms 18 of the embossments 16preferably lie in the plane of the margins 14 of the sides 10 (see FIG.3). The panel and embossment depths are substantially equal.

The top and bottom ends of the sides of the container body 10 arepress-formed to provide outwardly projecting circumferential flanges 20and an appropriate corner notch 21 is placed in the blank to preventtearing of the metal at the corners during formation. In thepress-forming of the blank the illustrated container is formed with thesidewalls integral with each other and joined in a rectangularconfiguration at the pressed comers 22. Both the outwardly projectingcircumferential flanges 20 and the outwardly projecting panels 12 of therespective sides of the container contribute to the generalinaccessibility of the stretch work-hardened corners 22 (FIG.

assume in effect the shape of a hexahedron which shape readifunctions topermit the containers to be manipulated by a suitable lifting means suchas a lift truck, to be easily pal- Ietized, or to be stacked one uponthe other either in their upright positions or on their sides as shownin FIG. 6. Furthermore, with no tendency to roll this self-stackingfeature advanced by this embodiment offers an important economicadvantage, that of efficient utilization of storage space. A cylindricaldrum having a capacity substantially equivalent to that ofa container ofthe instant design would take up approximately 13 percent more space;while the container of this invention, stacked in any multiples, willfill this wasted space.

' As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the top and bottom ends of the containerbody are closed by end plates 24. Each of the end plates 24 is bonded,as by seam welding 26 (FIG. to the respective flanges 20 of the sides,and each containing a generally circular opening 28 located at a cornerthereof. The opening 28 in FIG. 1 is shown with a plug member thereinfor purposes of illustration.

As indicated in FIG. 4, said opening 28 is defined by an internallythreaded nipple 30 extending into the interior 31 of the container bodyand is located within a recessed area 32 of errdplates 24. The plugmember has a gasket 35 which seals the contact area between the plugmember and the top of the nipple. The gasket can be of any resilientmaterial adapted to efiect a good seal and resist deterioration fromcontact with the liquid contents. The recessed area 32 is so designedthat when a threaded plug 34 is inserted into the opening, the plug willnot protrude above the exterior surface of the end plates. This furthercontributes to the self-stacking feature of the containers of thisinvention. The recess 32 has a work-hardened subwall 36 formed bypressing between matching molds. The outer edges 38 of the end plates 24are contiguous with the flanges 20 of the sidewalls and form a doublereinforced flange.

Referring to FIG. 7 a modified opening is shown within the recess 32 ofa top or bottom member 24 of the container 10. In this instance the plugmember 34 seals against the gasket 35 upon and around the opening 28 andits threaded shank extends into the interior of the container where itengages the internally threaded collar 40. The collar 40 is spaced fromthe underside 42 of the end plate 24 by means of the radial sup- 44. Thesupports 44 are affixed to the end plate 24 by welding and can be madeintegral with the collar. Two supports 44 are shown in this instancespaced 120 from each other, the third support not being illustrated.

flnFIG. 8, there is shown a container being hoisted by a pair of comercleats 46 linked to the chain harness 48. The corner cleats arepositioned on diagonally opposite corners of the container and have alower L-shaped flange 50 that fits under the corner of flange of thecontainer. The arrangement is lifted at the middle link 52. A detail ofthe cleat 46 is shown in FIG. 9 wherein the L-shaped flange 50 is seenin more detail. The wall 54 between the flange 50 and the car 56 is highenough so that the space between clears over edge 20, 38 of thecontainer. The ear56 is bent upwardly along the bend 60 at an angle ofabout 45 from the top wall 62. The ear 56 has an aperture 64 to receivea link or hook of the chain 48.

,The recessed openings 28 are located adjacent a corner of the-containerto provide for complete drainage of the liquid contents and alsopositioned so that the side flange or corner at the juncture of the sideflanges provides a convenient pouring spout.

Although the invention has been described in relation to seiieralembodiments these are illustrative and various modifications can be madein the structures shown without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Any type of sheet metal can be used to form the container of thisinvention. The sheet may vary in thickness in accordance with thestrength, weight and cost requirements to be met. As an example, themetal walls of all of the parts of the container can be the same ordifferent thicknesses, ranging from, but not limited by 16 to 22 gaugestock. Any of a wide variety of types of metal sheet can be used, asillustrated by cold rolled steel, hot rolled steel, stainless steel andthe like.

The metal sheet should be of hygenic quality where food stuffs such asedible liquid fats and vegetableoils are to be contained, stored anddispensed using the container of this invention. An advantage of theinvention is that special corrosionresistant containers for liquidchemicals, such as acids, can be fabricated at one-third to one-half oftheir present costs.

lclaim:

l. A rigid metal container of noncircular cross section comprising:

a. integral seamless generally flat sidewalls and flat end walls joinedtogether to form peripheral side flanges;

b. said sidewalls having stressed work-hardened corners extendingbetween said flanges;

c. said sidewalls being press-formed to provide a flat margin at saidflanges bordering an outwardly projecting panel;

d. said panel having press-formed rigidifying embossments therein, thebottom walls of which are substantially coplanar with said flat margin;and

e. a recessed opening in one of said flat end walls.

2. A rigid metal container in accordance with claim 1 in which: saidembossments in said panel are arranged in space configuration such thatany major dimension of a sidewall intersects at least two of saidembossments.

3. A rigid metal container in accordance with claim 2 in which: saidembossments are generally circular in form.

4. A rigid metal container in accordance with claim 2 in which saidembossments are triangular in form.

5. A rigid metal container in accordance with claim 2 in which: saidembossments are elongated.

6. A rigid metal container in accordance with claim 5 in which: saidelongated embossments are arranged in a pattern with each embossmentshaving its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to aneighboring embossment.

7. A rigid metal container in accordance with claim 1 in which:

a. said recessed opening is provided with an internally threaded collarextending into the interior of said container;

b. a plug member for said collar; and

c. openings are provided in the side of said collar between the innerWall of said end wall and the end of said collar.

8. A rigid metal container in accordance with claim 7 in which: saidcollar is affixed to and spaced from the inside of said end wall bymeans of radial supports.

9. A rigid container in accordance with claim 1 including incombination:

a. a corner cleat adapted to engage a corner of said container forlifting same; and

b. said cleat having and L-shaped vertical wall encompassing said flangeat a corner thereof.

10. A rigid metal container of noncircular cross section hava. integralseamless sidewalls with stressed work-hardened comers and outwardlydepending peripheral flanged edges at the ends; said walls each havingoutwardly projecting panels each bordered by stressed work-hardenedsubwalls spaced inwardly from said flanged edges and said corners todefine a peripheral flat margin;

0. a plurality of inwardly projecting flat-bottomed embossments in saidpanels bordered by stressed work-hardened subwalls, said embossmentsbeing spaced from each other and from the peripheral subwalls of saidpanel in a configuration such that any major dimension of a wall intersects at least two of said embossments;

d. the flat bottoms of said embossments and said peripheral pouringspout.

marg ns being in s b n ly the Same P and 12. A rigid metal container inaccordance with claim 10 in e. flat ends affixed to said sidewalls withtheir marginal which;

edge cPm'guous to f edges P a a recessed opening is provided in each ofthe side ends 11. A llgld metal container in accordance with claim 1 in5 walls and g g o in is rovided in each of the Side end b. said openingsare adjacent the corner of said container and pe g p whereby said sideflange adjacent thereto provides a b. said openings are adjacent thecomer of said container pounng spout whereby said side flange adjacentthereto provides a 10

